Zi Qing looked at the two brothers, expecting them to speak up was a bit difficult, so he had to shout himself, "Selling couplets! Nine cents a pair, buy big ones and get small ones for free, everyone come take a look!"

  "Little girl, whats this buy big get small business?"

  "If you buy a pair of couplets for the front door, well give you a small one for the pigsty or kitchen, and also a big Fu character." Zi Qing explained.

  "Little girl, what are you writing for Nian Nian? If you can read it, Ill pick one." The crowd burst out laughing.

  Heavenly blessings bring long life, Spring fills the universe with fortune and luck, Horizontal scroll: Four seasons of peace. Inner and outer harmony brings good fortune, Family unity and joy, wealth and prosperity, Horizontal scroll: Auspicious star shining bright. Spring fills the world with beauty, Fortune descends upon our humble abode, four seasons of peace, Horizontal scroll: Joyfully celebrating the Spring Festival...

  "The little girls reading is quite pleasant to listen to. She can also speak Mandarin and recognize characters. Not bad, not bad at all. This character is written pretty well too. Pick a pair for me."

  They sold things like this, loving to pile up, and besides, Zi Qing and the others were one of a kind. Even if the bitter peasants had spent New Years, they would have been willing to buy a pair of couplets to entrust their hopes for the coming year. So in less than half an hour, Zi Qing and the others sold out all 28 pairs of couplets, winning the first battle, making Zi Fu and Zi Lu very excited. They didnt even go home, but went straight to the general store. This time they bought 20 good red papers with the remaining money, and wrapped up the 15 damaged red papers. The boss didnt need to open his mouth this time, happily giving them two pens that were a bit flawed, a piece of ink, and a broken-edged inkstone.

  Three people entered Shens room with a smile, and Zilu hurriedly reported to Shen. Shen was very happy, patted the three of them on the head, and encouraged them a few words.

  "Mother, wheres Father?" asked Zi Qing.

  "Your dad and grandpa went to find a carpenter, and theyll also borrow some wood while theyre at it."

  Three people still came to Zifus house, cut the red paper well, it seems that they can only wait for Zeng Rui Xiang to have time to write again. After finishing these things, Zifu took Zilu to help Tian with his work.

  With Zeng Rui-xiangs help, by the 18th they had sold all their couplets at the market and amazingly they had made over a thousand wen. Of course, they didnt take the money back home but instead exchanged it all for red paper.

  As soon as they returned home, before they could even share the good news with Zeng Rui-xiang and Shen Shi, they found that there were guests at home. It turned out that it was Xiao Sis full moon day on the 18th, and both Da Shu-niang (Permit) and Er Shu-niang (Zhao) had arrived. Shen Shi was chatting with them, while Zi Fu helped carry the meat and eggs brought by Permit and Zhao. Everyone went to the front room together. The front room also had many guests, the most frightening being that Da Gu (Spring Jade) and her family of seven had all come. Spring Jade now had five children, three sons and two daughters. The names of the three sons were quite funny: Big Hair, Second Hair, and Third Hair. The youngest girl was only about one year old and still unsteady on her feet. At mealtime, the children sat at a separate table. Although Zi Qing had been there for many days, it was the first time she saw meat in the dishes. Just as she reached out with her chopsticks, the three "Hairs" swept away the two plates of meat dishes like a whirlwind. Zi Qing looked at Zi Fu and Zi Lu and found that Zi Fu was very calm, while Zi Lu was furious. She estimated that similar situations had happened many times before, so they were no longer surprised. Zi Qing also discovered that after finishing lunch, Zi Fu quickly returned to the back room and locked his door with a small copper lock.

  Xu and Zhao ate lunch and left. Originally, they were going to pick up Shen and have her stay for a few days, but Shen said that since its the end of the year, there are many things to do, so she didnt go over. Shell go after the new year instead. Staying a few more days is the same anyway.

  Chun Yu and her family stayed behind, at dinner time listening to Chun Yu complaining about the difficulties of their daily life, many children in the household but little land, the children couldnt even eat their fill, let alone have new clothes for the New Year. Zi Qing listened silently, thinking to herself that she was no better off, often going hungry and cold. Ah Po suddenly called out to Zi Fu to come over.

  Zi Qing listened to Ah Po asking: "Zi Fu, I heard that you and your friends are selling couplets. How much money did you make?"

  "Grandma, I didnt earn much money. Its been a year since Mother passed away, and my younger brothers and sisters cotton-padded jackets are all torn. I wanted to earn some money to make new cotton-padded jackets for them." Zifeng replied respectfully.

  Tian heard this and looked unhappy, saying: "Whats the point of messing around if youre not making money? Auntie hasnt had a new set of clothes for years either."

  "I know, Ah Po, Ill earn money to buy fabric for you and Ah Gong. Zi Fu has already planned it out." Tian Shis expression turned slightly joyful upon hearing this.

  After dinner, Zifou hugged his little brother, Shen Shi was washing dishes alone, Ziqing called on Zilu to help their mother clean up, Tian Shi and Zeng Lao discussed how to accommodate Chunyus family. Ziqing wasnt interested in listening to that, still thinking about the red paper they bought this time, the day after tomorrow is the big market, and Zeng Rui Xiang wants to stay up all night to write.

  Who would have thought that from this day on, Zi Qing took on a new task, taking care of her little brother. Because Shen Shi had just given birth and couldnt stay in the house all day to take care of the child, Shen Shi had a lot of household chores to do, such as cooking, feeding pigs, feeding chickens, washing dishes, and sometimes even fetching water. Shen Shi and Zhou Shi divided up the tasks, but since Shen Shi had just finished her month-long confinement, she took on more responsibilities voluntarily. Fortunately, Chun Yus family left the next day. Zi Qing took care of the two younger brothers at home, while Zi Fu took Zi Lu out to sell couplets.

  On the 20th, Erzi Fu bought red paper and said that there was another family selling couplets in the market, but because it was a big market day, they were all sold out. I guess it wont sell well afterwards.

  Zi Qing thought for a moment and said, "Its okay, big brother. We wont sell here anymore. Since this place is close to Anzhou Prefecture, at the end of the year, Auntie and her family will drive there to buy New Years goods. You can take Second Brother with them on their way back, and go to the vegetable market in the city to sell. There are more people in the city, so it will definitely be better than selling here."

  Zi Fu praised Zi Qing and then went to discuss with Shen Shi. Coincidentally, Shen Shi was planning to go to the city to buy some fabric for the childrens new year clothes. They agreed to go on the 23rd; firstly, Zeng Rui Xiang would need a few days to finish writing the couplets, secondly, the 24th was Xiaonian (Minor New Year), and they would be busy at home and couldnt leave. On the 22nd, Zi Fu still took Zi Lu to the market in Xiao Kun. Zi Fu thought he could sell some, but sold less than a hundred pairs. Zi Fu was still very happy and bought red paper on the way back.

  On the twenty-third day, Shens family took their children, Ziyu and Zifu, to town without having breakfast. Ziqing stayed at home with Zishou. Zeng Rui-xiang went into the mountains to cut wood with his cousins. Ziqing took Zishou to an empty space by the pond to sunbathe. They played with new friends, kicking a shuttlecock, jumping over a "house", and throwing sandbags. Time passed quickly while they were having fun. Near noon, Ziqing saw her aunts donkey cart returning and hurriedly took her brother back home.